Modest cat food growth helps contain Nestlé’s pet portfolio sales dip

Nestlé’s pet care sales slipped by 3% year-over-year (YoY) to CHF 13.6 billion ($14.7B/€13.9B) for the first 9 months of 2025. During the same period last year, Purina’s portfolio hit CHF 14 billion ($15.1B/€14.3B) in sales.

The company’s pet business reported an organic growth of 1.2%. According to Nestlé, it was driven by the wet and dry cat segment, which partially offset weaker category dynamics in its dog brands. This trend has also been observed in the first half of the year.

Pricing of Purina products eased by 0.5% from January to September.

State of the business 

Nestlé CFO Anna Manz states that the petcare category is currently “sluggish but stable.”

“Overall, we are holding or gaining share. We remain positive about the medium-term growth outlook,” she says. “We’re focused on accelerating category growth through innovation and investment in fast-growing areas, such as therapeutic diets and supplements.”

In the third quarter of the year, pet care sales also declined by 4% YoY to CHF 4.4 billion ($4.7B/€4.4B), with an organic growth of 0.9% and a real internal growth (RIG) of 1.3%.

Overall, all of Nestlé’s businesses registered a 3.3% organic growth between January and September, with sales reaching CHF 65.8 billion ($71.1B/€67.1B).

Regional breakdown 

In the Asia, Oceania and Africa region, pet care growth was negative despite contributing to overall regional market share gains. However, the segment was particularly driven by Greater China and developed markets, as well as other emerging markets, which registered double-digit growth.

In Europe, the segment registered mid-single-digit growth, driving overall market growth, while recording a real internal growth (RIG) of 2%. 

Nestlé also noted that the segment’s growth was “solid” across the region, with improving performance in key markets such as the UK, Ireland and France. Segment growth was also RIG-led and broad-based across markets, led by Felix, Pro Plan and ONE.

In the Americas, Purina’s growth was driven by Latin America. According to the earnings report, North America RIG and pricing were both broadly flat. In the continent, the stronger contributions from the cat segment “were partially offset by weaker category dynamics in dog, impacting mainstream and snacks.”

Guidance

Nestlé’s outlook remains positive with 2025 organic sales growth expected to improve compared to 2024, strengthening over the year as it continues to deliver on its growth plans.

Based on tariffs in place and foreign exchange rates at the time of the H1 2025 results release, the group expects its underlying trading operating profit (UTOP) to be at or above 16%, driven by ongoing growth investments.

“We have been making good financial progress with a strong Q3. Our investments in growth

are starting to show results. We are determined to deliver on our commitments, and I am confirming our full-year 2025 guidance,” says Philipp Navratil, CEO of Nestlé.